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2009-10-17T18:44:00.002+02:00

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-14T19:19:00.004+02:00

We're moving. I never loved a house as much as I love this home...
I'll miss the giant lilacs, the barns and stable and our quiet gravel road.
I'm excited to get to know our new home (which we'll own!) but am pretty darn sad to say goodbye to this one...

Summer

2009-08-04T21:45:00.008+02:00

It's finally here...

A new family member

2009-07-07T21:24:00.004+02:00

Isn't he adorable? He's only about 1 day old here. He's growing in leaps and bounds for every passing day. Right now his name is Junior but it may have to be changed to June, once we can figure out if he's a she or a he :)
And he has the cutest, yellowest, fluffiest bum, ever.

2009-03-12T10:57:00.001+01:00

See you next month!

Spring time

2009-02-26T20:28:00.009+01:00

There's something so refreshing about spring bulbs to me. The colors and textures of fresh vegetation brings me an energy that's been sleeping for months. The days begin to lengthen, the sun's rays are warmer and the snow melts. We begin to live again.

My view

2009-02-26T20:11:00.002+01:00

Quilting

2009-01-27T12:21:00.002+01:00

I just love the red and turquoise together. I've no idea yet just how big this quilt is going to be. I'm just going along with the creativity for now :)

White Animals

2009-01-22T11:51:00.003+01:00

Plaster animals! I mixed up the powder with some water and poured it in these molds. After it started to dry I poked a magnet onto the back of each one. That's what the little black, round thing is. That one fell out. You're supposed to paint them but I kinda like them white. I love creating with plaster and am going to search for new ideas now! I'm going to spray a layer of vanish on them to keep them from crumbling and maybe frame them or gift them.

Yum!

2009-01-22T11:45:00.003+01:00

These. Are. So. Good.

Recipe:

INGREDIENTS

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. I like to use a number 50 size scoop. Coat each ball in confectioners' sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

They are easy to make and won't last long!

Little bear

2009-01-22T11:38:00.004+01:00

I created this little guy from a pattern I found at Hillary's wonderful blog. He'll probably end up being sent to my little niece and nephew in Texas, along with some other softies. So far, I've made a bunny, kitty and a squirrel. I'll have to do some tractors and horses next!

Spring?

2009-01-18T20:58:00.003+01:00

Lots of dimly lit evenings around here. It's hard to get through such dark winters but the little things in my home keep my going. And soon, yes it has to be soon, spring will slowly show her face. I can't wait.

Mama To Mama

2009-01-10T15:43:00.008+01:00

A few months ago Amanda Soule from www.soulemama.typepad.com blogged about this.

I had a great time making the baby caps and can't wait to see what is next. The above is the aftermath of a sewing frenzy which turned out to be a perfect napping bed for someone:)

Feels like home

2009-01-09T22:45:00.005+01:00

I love it when the sun is shining in the house. It's the perfect light for sewing I think. And taking photos of notions and finished projects. I love the triangle and perhaps that's why I love pinking shears so much. They are perfect in every way.
And so I made a foot stool cover to match the couch's cover. My favorite slightly rust/orangey/burnt kind of red. It really brightens up the place. And we need that around here with so few hours of daylight that are usually obscured by a wintry duvet of clouds.

And then it was on to make some new pillows. I love this fabric and would've bought the whole bolt if not for the price tag(30 bucks a meter). I settled with a fluffy white backing for both of them. The little brown ones were a couple of place mats I picked up at Hemtex. They begged me to turn them into pillows. With their cute little pom-poms who could resist?

This cat needs to relax more

2009-01-09T22:32:00.005+01:00

He leads such a busy life. We're worried he can't let the stress of the day go *cough cough

Dancing bears and Bonnet Crows

2009-01-09T11:34:00.007+01:00

I once knew a pet crow. He was incredibly curious and a bit too smart for his own good. He had a way of looking directly into your eyes. It's not often that one is given a chance to make eye contact with a wild creature and when it happens to me, my heart skips a beat. I can just imagine what these two lady crows are chattering on about I got them and this adorably funny brooch from here.
They make me smile each time I look at them. Go visit her shop and give a dancing bear or a chattering pair of crows a home:)
Oh and let's not forget the chocolate candies that were added to the package!

This is cool

2009-01-01T12:52:00.002+01:00

I have a hard time with cutting up a book or even a magazine and have some weird issues with treatment of books but this little video is so fun to watch. You gotta see it, even if you do cringe at dog ears :)

New loot

2008-12-27T21:50:00.007+01:00

We went to the local thrift shop and man does that place get packed. They're only open on Saturday mornings and only on Saturdays that don't have a holiday in that week. I can say, I have never gone in and come out empty handed. They have tons of stuff. Of all kinds. These are a few things I snapped up. All the usual little old ladies must've been having a shin-dig some where cause none of them were at the linen shelves elbowing me to death. I made a killing on fabric! These are just a few favorites. I was delighted with finding the big piece of velvet. Not sure what I'll make of it yet. The little blue bird is one of my favorite birds-the Wren. So adorable. And isn't that mug so Watership Down-ish? Love that. And made in England. Love it! And I've always wanted salt and pepper shakers just like those. Jack-pot :) I really love my little stool. So cute!

Tiny feet

2008-12-27T21:38:00.003+01:00

My very first pair of socks! And they're so tiny. Try as I might I could not even get a row knitted without lots of melt-downs so I caved and bought a sort of knitting cheater do-dad. It's a circle with little pins coming out that you wrap the yarn around and then pick over. It's been fun but I'd like to learn to do more(with real needles. Mine are currently jammed in a pot holding up a potted plant). There once was a time when I could knit a pretty wicked square. Will I ever get it back?

Vandals!

2008-12-27T21:25:00.009+01:00

My stash of wool for needle felting has been hit. There were no witnesses but we have our suspicions.

My Favorite

2008-12-18T20:42:00.003+01:00

Avian trend, I love you. This little beauty was plucked from Larissa's etsy shop.

Paper Carnations

2008-12-18T18:42:00.009+01:00

I miss our joyful flowers in their sleeping beds, tucked away for the cold and dark of winter, so I decided to make my own out of paper, a bit of pipe cleaner and a marker. I think they came out pretty nice. I put only a few in a tall glass vase rather than stuffing too many together.

Some roses from a Martha Stewart kit were also put together. They are just lovely but were a bit time consuming. I snapped the photo weeks ago when we finally had a brief show of sunshine. A few hours of sunlight in about... a month. Yes, a month. And that's typical for this area at this time of year. *sigh

Still a few months yet til real flowers will appear in my garden. And then slowly the bumble bees, butterflies and the barn swallows, oh the barn swallows, will return at long last.

Your skin is your largest organ

2008-12-11T19:53:00.000+01:00

Did you know that? So take care of it! I discovered Burt's Bees some years ago and have been a constant customer. My mom faithfully ships me my bursting order from Texas all the way across the Atlantic. It's the most anticipated of all care packages I get from home and this year Burt's Bees has a few new products that I can't wait to try out! Here are a few of my long time favorites that have soothed, healed and calmed my rowdy skin.

The royal jelly eye creme is so yummy. Pat in under your eyes before bed and you'll wake up to the softest lids ever.

If I could only take one cosmetic to a deserted island hands down it would be the evening primrose overnight cream. The rosehip seed oil, avocado and sesame oil make it sound like a tasty dinner!

I like dresses

2008-12-11T14:06:00.000+01:00

I'm wearing this one today. I just got it and I think it needs to be taken in a bit at the waist. Or maybe I'll just add a skinny belt. I may need the extra width in the future ;-) I can't wait to wear it this summer with some cool boots.

It's beginning to look...

2008-12-11T13:02:00.000+01:00

A lot like winter. Ick. I don't like the cold. Nor the darkness. I long for warm sand between my toes... so I curl up in my sea of pillows and blankets and dogs and cats to escape the winter. I hibernate. In these (c/o Victoria's Secret).

My new glasses

2008-12-08T19:07:00.000+01:00

So we went thrifting today...

2008-12-06T16:55:00.002+01:00

And here are some of my treasures! An off-white blouse for about 3dollars. The tags are cut out but I'm pretty sure it's H&M.
(Yes, embarrassingly I do have an iron.)

I'm so in love with my little rococo framed ducky.

The little black wire basket will be for collecting eggs.
I'll probably fill the tiny silver cup with more buttons and send to my mom:)
I'm totally digging this fox coat hanger. It's old Ikea and I've so far collected a cottontail, fawn and now this little guy. They remind so much of Beatrix Potter.
These 5 vintage plates caught my eye sitting amongst the rif-raf of the plate community. I have oodles of small plates but I thought these were so cool. And perfect for serving drop-in guests with brownies!

Felting

2008-12-06T16:48:00.000+01:00

Acorns! These are needle felted and then glued into the caps. A very simple and fun project!

2008-12-05T16:10:00.000+01:00

How fabulous is this dress! Ah, tiny bird print, feminine, and simple. It doesn't get any better. Scoot on over to the etsy shop to snap it up before I do! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17419810

Latest Addition

2008-12-05T15:59:00.000+01:00

Meet Flexie. She'll be coming home with us this Sunday. Hopefully :)
She's 10 and being bullied at the cat shelter so we felt she deserved better. I think we're gonna call her Lexi though.

2008-12-02T15:05:00.000+01:00

We're thinking of adopting this little lady. Her name is Tiara. :)

Howdy y'all

2008-12-02T14:51:00.000+01:00

So this is what it feels like. My first post on my first blog.